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CHARLOTTE, N.C. (CN) — Legacy Motor Club sued T.J. Puchyr and his consulting firm in Charlotte court, claiming that he induced Rick Ware Racing to break its contract selling a racing agreement to Legacy.
Legacy Motor Club has been embroiled in a nasty contract dispute over the sale of a charter agreement — a franchise-like agreement granting NASCAR teams guaranteed race entry and a cut of broadcasting profits — with Rick Ware Racing since April. Legacy accused Rick Ware Racing of backing out of a sale after the papers were signed, then Rick Ware Racing countersued claiming Legacy is attempting to assert ownership over a different charter than the one it originally contracted.
Legacy insists the deal is for next season, when the team is slated to add a third full-time Cup Series car. Rick Ware says the deal is for 2027, and that he accidentally signed a contract that read 2026.
The parties were in court Monday over a deposition dispute stemming from reporting that Ware intends to sell its company and two racing charters to Puchyr, one of the founders of Spire Motorsports, who helped broker the deal between Ware and Legacy. Attorneys for Legacy raised concerns that Ware may expedite the sale and sell the disputed charters to Puchyr “under the cover of darkness” before Legacy could confirm the planned sale and ask the court to prevent it.
Superior Court Judge Daniel A. Kuehnert warned Rick Ware Racing that there would be “really serious ramifications” if it sells its two charter agreements after having told the court it had no plan to do so.
In the heavily redacted lawsuit, Legacy claimed Puchyr intentionally induced Rick Ware Racing to break its contract with Legacy, interfered with Legacy’s business relationships and that his actions constitute unfair and deceptive trade practices. Puchyr and his consulting firm previously had a contract with Legacy, which Legacy said made him privy to business secrets that he used to put them at a competitive disadvantage.
“Rather than advocate for Legacy and its reputation, Mr. Puchyr publicly maligned his client and exploited his position of trust and his knowledge of the parties’ contract to apparently strike a backroom deal with the goal of depriving Legacy of the bargain that he helped put together,” Legacy said in the suit.
“Despite Mr. Puchyr’s insider knowledge of the contract, his obligations under his consulting agreement with Legacy, Legacy’s contractual right to charter, and RWR’s representations to this court, Mr. Puchyr recently announced that he intends to purchase both of RWR’s charters for himself,” Legacy said. “He declared to the press that, notwithstanding the active lawsuit between Legacy and RWR over resolving the terms of their deal, ‘there is no charter available from Ware for Legacy for either lease or purchase in 2026.’”
Counsel for Legacy told the court Monday that Puchyr had conversations with Legacy’s sponsors about the potential purchase over the weekend. Puchyr was fully aware of the parties’ dispute, Legacy said, and knew of concerns that Rick Ware Racing might take steps to encumber its charters to prevent Legacy from obtaining one.
“Mr. Puchyr lacks any legitimate justification to purchase RWR and use its charter to leapfrog Legacy into the NASCAR Cup Series as new owner on the back of Legacy’s prior and binding deal with Mr. Ware. That effort to use Legacy’s charter to launch a three-car team for himself is both dishonest and unfair,” Legacy said in its suit.
Puchyr’s attempt to purchase Rick Ware Racing and its charters would have taken weeks of preparing, negotiating and securing financing, Legacy said, and on the day the sale was announced, Puchyr called a potential sponsor and disparaged Legacy’s ability to enforce its contract with Rick Ware and expand its number of charters.
Puchyr also made personal attacks against Legacy’s owner, seven-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson, Legacy said, saying that Johnson didn’t understand the deal that was negotiated.
Legacy sued Puchyr and Rucus Racing LLC for tortious interference with contract, tortious interference with prospective economic advantage and over the North Carolina Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices Act.
Despite efforts to do so, Courthouse News was unable to reach Puchyr or Rucus Racing for comment on the lawsuit.
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